HM Treasury has said it will implement three ideas submitted by the public to its Spending Challenge website which include a government e-auction site.
The selling of surplus and second hand government equipment will be increased by expanding use of the Ministry of Defence's (MoD) online eDisposals service to other departments …

So how much ...

In another cost saving inititative ...

... the Government said they would end expensive consultation exercises asking the public for cost-saving ideas, as it had become apparent that all of the feasible proposals had in fact been submitted by civil servants. A further measure of cost-saving has been effected by banning Ministers from having bright ideas that must be rushed into production despite it being obvious that they would fail a 5-minute sanity check. As an added validity test, any Minister mandating an IT initiative costing more than £5 will be thrown from the Houses of Parliament terrace into the Thames. If the Minister sinks, the initiative will be allowed to proceed.

I hope so...

Can I make a suggestion?

Scarp ministers pay & expenses fullstop - these guys are all wealthy enough to cover their own cost and shouldn't be a burden to the tax payer. Being a minister should be because you want to help your common man, not looking for a payout.

Bad Idea

It's not far off impossible now

"This would mean it would be completely impossible (presently very difficult) for the common man to ever become a minister."

The idea that MPs are representative of society has never really got off the ground. You get the occasional one or two, but by and large they're all millionaires, or are within five years of getting into the job.

NI cards are a good thing

I didn't need my NI number for a couple of years after I got given it. I would definitely have lost it in that time if it was on a letter, requiring me to waste somebody's time looking it up for me. How expensive can an inexpensive card being produced by a dedicated machine be anyway?

Excuse me, little question!

eDisposals

Bizarre site, just bizarre. My favourite ad is the barefoot 'hottie' illustrating the girl's combat trousers; 'Top of The List For The Summer!' It reminded me of the 70's film, 'M.A.S.H.', and the deadpan military radio announcements in the background.